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As it is this disposition which forms that difference of
talents； so remarkable among men of different professions； so it
is this same disposition which renders that difference useful。
Many tribes of animals acknowledged to be all of the same species
derive from nature a much more remarkable distinction of genius；
than what； antecedent to custom and education； appears to take
place among men。 By nature a philosopher is not in genius and
disposition half so different from a street porter； as a mastiff
is from a greyhound； or a greyhound from a spaniel； or this last
from a shepherd's dog。 Those different tribes of animals；
however； though all of the same species； are of scarce any use to
one another。 The strength of the mastiff is not； in the least；
supported either by the swiftness of the greyhound； or by the
sagacity of the spaniel； or by the docility of the shepherd's
dog。 The effects of those different geniuses and talents； for
want of the power or disposition to barter and exchange； cannot
be brought into a common stock； and do not in the least
contribute to the better accommodation ind conveniency of the
species。 Each animal is still obliged to support and defend
itself； separately and independently； and derives no sort of
advantage from that variety of talents with which nature has
distinguished its fellows。 Among men； on the contrary； the most
dissimilar geniuses are of use to one another； the different
produces of their respective talents； by the general disposition
to truck； barter； and exchange； being brought； as it were； into a
common stock； where every man may purchase whatever part of the
produce of other men's talents he has occasion for。
CHAPTER III
That the Division of Labour is limited by the Extent of the
Market
AS it is the power of exchanging that gives occasion to the
division of labour； so the extent of this division must always be
limited by the extent of that power； or； in other words； by the
extent of the market。 When the market is very small； no person
can have any encouragement to dedicate himself entirely to one
employment； for want of the power to exchange all that surplus
part of the produce of his own labour； which is over and above
his own consumption； for such parts of the produce of other men's
labour as he has occasion for。
There are some sorts of industry； even of the lowest kind；
which can be carried on nowhere but in a great town。 A porter；
for example； can find employment and subsistence in no other
place。 A village is by much too narrow a sphere for him； even an
ordinary market town is scarce large enough to afford him
constant occupation。 In the lone houses and very small villages
which are scattered about in so desert a country as the Highlands
of Scotland； every farmer must be butcher； baker and brewer for
his own family。 In such situations we can scarce expect to find
even a smith； a carpenter； or a mason； within less than twenty
miles of another of the same trade。 The scattered families that
live at eight or ten miles distance from the nearest of them must
learn to perform themselves a great number of little pieces of
work； for which； in more populous countries； they would call in
the assistance of those workmen。 Country workmen are almost
everywhere obliged to apply themselves to all the different
branches of industry that have so much affinity to one another as
to be employed about the same sort of materials。 A country
carpenter deals in every sort of work that is made of wood： a
country smith in every sort of work that is made of iron。 The
former is not only a carpenter； but a joiner； a cabinet…maker；
and even a carver in wood； as well as a wheel…wright； a
plough…wright； a cart and waggon maker。 The employments of the
latter are still more various。 It is impossible there should be
such a trade as even that of a nailer in the remote and inland
parts of the Highlands of Scotland。 Such a workman at the rate of
a thousand nails a day； and three hundred working days in the
year； will make three hundred thousand nails in the year。 But in
such a situation it would be impossible to dispose of one
thousand； that is； of one day's work in the year。
As by means of water…carriage a more extensive market is
opened to every sort of industry than what land…carriage alone
can afford it； so it is upon the sea…coast； and along the banks
of navigable rivers； that industry of every kind naturally begins
to subdivide and improve itself； and it is frequently not till a
long time after that those improvements extend themselves to the
inland parts of the country。 A broad…wheeled waggon； attended by
two men； and drawn by eight horses； in about six weeks' time
carries and brings back between London and Edinburgh near four
ton weight of goods。 In about the same time a ship navigated by
six or eight men； and sailing between the ports of London and
Leith； frequently carries and brings back two hundred ton weight
of goods。 Six or eight men； therefore； by the help of
water…carriage； can carry and bring back in the same time the
same quantity of goods between London and Edinburgh； as fifty
broad…wheeled waggons； attended by a hundred men； and drawn by
four hundred horses。 Upon two hundred tons of goods； therefore；
carried by the cheapest land…carriage from London to Edinburgh；
there must be charged the maintenance of a hundred men for three
weeks； and both the maintenance； and； what is nearly equal to the
maintenance； the wear and tear of four hundred horses as well as
of fifty great waggons。 Whereas； upon the same quantity of goods
carried by water； there is to be charged only the maintenance of
six or eight men； and the wear and tear of a ship of two hundred
tons burden； together with the value of the superior risk； or the
difference of the insurance between land and water…carriage。 Were
there no other communication between those two places； therefore；
but by land…carriage； as no goods could be transported from the
one to the other； except such whose price was very considerable
in proportion to their weight； they could carry on but a small
part of that commerce which at present subsists between them； and
consequently could give but a small part of that encouragement
which they at present mutually afford to each other's industry。
There could be little or no commerce of any kind between the
distant parts of the world。 What goods could bear the expense of
land…carriage between London and Calcutta？ Or if there were any
so precious as to be able to support this expense； with what
safety could they be transported through the territories of so
many barbarous nations？ Those two cities； however； at present
carry on a very considerable commerce with each other； and by
mutually affording a market； give a good deal of encouragement to
each other's industry。
Since such； therefore； are the advantages of water…carriage；
it